Objective: This study aims to investigate the infection of Method: Infection of the definitive human host and intermediate fish host by Results: In 2016-2020, the average population infection rate of Hunan was 1.38%, while in Tongdao County the rate was up to 26.90%, and the highest fish infection rate was detected in Qiyang County (99.44% in the dorsal fin of Conclusion The systematically study of
Animals ; Cat Diseases/parasitology* ; Cats ; China/epidemiology* ; Clonorchiasis/veterinary* ; Clonorchis sinensis/genetics* ; Dog Diseases/parasitology* ; Dogs ; Fish Diseases/parasitology* ; Fishes ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Species Specificity

Neuroretinitis is an inflammatory optic neuropathy with a classic fundoscopic appearance of optic disc swelling and hard exudates on the macula in a star formation. It can be a manifestation of systemic, infectious or autoimmune disease. In nearly half of cases, the etiology is idiopathic. This review aims to summarize the clinical presentation, fundoscopic mimics, etiologies, investigation, and treatment of neuroretinitis. Cat-scratch disease, the most common cause of infectious neuroretinitis, and recurrent idiopathic neuroretinitis, which can cause ocular morbidity, are discussed in detail.
Retinitis ; Cat-Scratch Disease

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from various tissues have been well characterized for therapeutic application to clinical diseases. However, in contrast to MSCs from other animal species, the characteristics of feline MSCs have not been fully documented. In this study, we conducted extensive characterization of feline adipose tissue-derived MSCs (fAD-MSCs). Study fAD-MSCs were individually isolated from the intra-abdominal adipose tissues of six felines. The expression levels of cell surface markers and pluripotent markers were evaluated. Next, proliferation capacity was analyzed by performing cumulative population doubling level (CPDL) and doubling time (DT) calculation assays. Differentiation potentials of fAD-MSCs into mesodermal cell lineages were analyzed by examining specific staining and molecular markers. All fAD-MSCs positively expressed cell surface markers such as CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105, CD166, and MHC-I, while CD14, CD34, CD45, and CD73 were negatively expressed. The CPDL of the fAD-MSCs was maintained until passage 5 to 6 (P5 to P6), whereas DT increased after P3 to P4. Also, stem cell-specific pluripotent markers (Oct3/4, Nanog, and SSEA-4) were detected. Importantly, all fAD-MSCs demonstrated mesodermal differentiation capacity. These results suggest that fully characterized fAD-MSCs could be beneficial when considering the use of these cells in feline disease research.
Animals ; Cat Diseases ; Cats ; Cell Lineage ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Mesoderm

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cat-scratch disease (CSD), caused by Bartonella henselae is one of the most common zoonosis. However, only several cases of B. henselae infection have been reported in Korea. This study investigated the seroprevalence of B. henselae in healthy adults and related risk factors. METHODS: Serum samples from 300 healthy participants were analyzed using an immunoglobulin G immunof luorescence assay (IFA) for B. henselae isolated in Korea. Surveys on the risk factors for B. henselae infection were conducted simultaneously. RESULTS: Of the participants, 47.7% and 15.0% raised dogs and cats, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of B. henselae was 15.0% (IFA titer ≥ 1:64). Participants who had raised cats showed 22.2% seropositivity against B. henselae, and those with no experience with cats showed 13.7% seroprevalence (p = 0.17). Participants who had cats as pets or been scratched by cats, showed 9.8% seropositivity against B. henselae (IFA titer ≥ 1:256). However, those who had not raised or been scratched by a cat showed 2.0% seropositivity (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, the seroprevalence of B. henselae is higher than expected, suggesting that Bartonella infection due to B. henselae is not uncommon. Cats are proposed to play a more important role than dogs in transmission of CSD.
Adult* ; Animals ; Bartonella henselae* ; Bartonella Infections ; Bartonella* ; Cat-Scratch Disease ; Cats ; Dogs ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea* ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cat-scratch disease (CSD), caused by Bartonella henselae is one of the most common zoonosis. However, only several cases of B. henselae infection have been reported in Korea. This study investigated the seroprevalence of B. henselae in healthy adults and related risk factors. METHODS: Serum samples from 300 healthy participants were analyzed using an immunoglobulin G immunof luorescence assay (IFA) for B. henselae isolated in Korea. Surveys on the risk factors for B. henselae infection were conducted simultaneously. RESULTS: Of the participants, 47.7% and 15.0% raised dogs and cats, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of B. henselae was 15.0% (IFA titer ≥ 1:64). Participants who had raised cats showed 22.2% seropositivity against B. henselae, and those with no experience with cats showed 13.7% seroprevalence (p = 0.17). Participants who had cats as pets or been scratched by cats, showed 9.8% seropositivity against B. henselae (IFA titer ≥ 1:256). However, those who had not raised or been scratched by a cat showed 2.0% seropositivity (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, the seroprevalence of B. henselae is higher than expected, suggesting that Bartonella infection due to B. henselae is not uncommon. Cats are proposed to play a more important role than dogs in transmission of CSD.
Adult* ; Animals ; Bartonella henselae* ; Bartonella Infections ; Bartonella* ; Cat-Scratch Disease ; Cats ; Dogs ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea* ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

Neck mass can be frequently encountered in pediatric patients. Most neck mass in pediatric patients are either inflammatory lesions or benign tumors but their differential diagnoses are not always easy. We must not forget the study results that a considerable portion of pediatric neck mass constitutes malignant tumors. Generally neck mass can be divided into inflammatory, developmental (congenital), and tumorous lesions. Developmental neck mass are generally thyroglossal duct cyst, branchial cleft cyst, dermoid cyst, vascular malformation, or hemangioma. Manifestations of inflammatory neck mass are reactive cervical lymphadenopathy, infectious lymphadenitis (viral or bacterial), mycobacterial cervical lymphadenopathy, or Kawasaki disease. The more uncommonly found pediatric malignant neck mass are lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, or thyroid carcinoma. For the diagnosis of pediatric neck mass complete blood count, purified protein derivative test for tuberculosis, and measurement of titers for Epstein-Barr virus are required and in special cases, infectious diagnostic panels for cat-scratch disease, cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, or toxoplasmosis may be needed. Ultrasonography is the most convenient and feasible diagnostic method in differentiating various neck mass. Computed tomography is performed when identifying the anatomical aspects of the neck mass or where deep neck infection or retropharyngeal abscess is suspected. Surgical management for congenital neck mass is recommended to prevent secondary infection or various complications following size increase. Most pediatric neck mass originate from bacterial lymphadenitis and antibacterial therapy is considered first line of conservative treatment. However if the neck mass is either over 2 cm in size without any evidence of inflammation, firm or fixed to surrounding tissue, accompanied by B symptoms, unresponsive to initial antibacterial therapy or over 4 weeks of conservative management, or considered keep growing for over 2 weeks, one must suspect the possibility of malignancy and must consult a head and neck specialist for further detailed evaluation.
Blood Cell Count ; Branchioma ; Cat-Scratch Disease ; Coinfection ; Cytomegalovirus ; Dermoid Cyst ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Head ; Hemangioma ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; HIV ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lymphadenitis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphoma ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Neck* ; Retropharyngeal Abscess ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Specialization ; Thyroglossal Cyst ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Toxoplasmosis ; Tuberculosis ; Ultrasonography ; Vascular Malformations

We describe here a rare case of traumatic myiasis occurred in August 2014, caused by an association of 2 Diptera species, Sarcophaga tibialis Macquart (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in a domestic cat in northern Italy. Species identification was based on adult male morphology. The present case is the first report of S. tibialis as an agent of myiasis in Italy, and also the first ever report of myiasis caused by an association of S. tibialis and L. sericata. The cat developed an extensive traumatic myiasis in a large wound on the rump, which was treated pharmacologically and surgically. The biology, ecology, and distribution of S. tibialis and L. sericata are also discussed. A literature review is provided on cases of myiasis caused by S. tibialis, and cases of myiasis by L. sericata involving cats worldwide and humans and animals in Italy.
Animals ; Animals, Domestic/parasitology ; Cat Diseases/*parasitology ; Cats ; Diptera/growth & development/*physiology ; Female ; Italy ; Larva/growth & development/physiology ; Male ; Myiasis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Sarcophagidae/growth & development/*physiology

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is an important and highly prevalent pathogen of cats that causes feline respiratory disease. The reverse genetic systems for FCV have been established in national and international laboratories since 1995. This technique has been used widely in FCV basic research and good progress has consequently been made to determine the relationship between viral genome structures and the function of their proteins, the expression of foreign proteins, virus-host interactions, and viral pathogenic mechanisms. In this article,we review the state of progress with regards to the establishment and application of the FCV reverse genetic operating system,which will provide a useful reference tool for future related research.
Animals ; Caliciviridae Infections ; veterinary ; virology ; Calicivirus, Feline ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cat Diseases ; virology ; Cats ; Reverse Genetics ; methods ; trends ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

The present study was performed to survey the infection status of zoonotic intestinal trematode (ZIT) in stray cats from 5 major riverside areas in the Republic of Korea. Total 400 stray cats were captured with live-traps in riverside areas of Seomjingang (\'gang' means river) (203 cats) from June to October 2010, and of Yeongsangang (41), Nakdonggang (57), Geumgang (38), and Hangang (61 cats) from June to October 2011, respectively. Small intestines resected from cats were opened with a pair of scissors in a beaker with 0.85% saline and examined with naked eyes and under a stereomicroscope. More than 16 ZIT species were detected in 188 (92.6%) cats from Seomjingang areas, and the number of worms recovered was 111 per cat infected. In cats from riverside areas of Yeongsangang, Nakdonggang, Geumgang, and Hangang, more than 9, 8, 3, and 5 ZIT species were recovered, and the worm burdens were 13, 42, 11, and 56 specimens per infected cat, respectively. As the members of family Heterophyidae, more than 10 species, i.e., Metagonimus spp., Pygidiopsis summa, Heterophyes nocens, Stellantchasmus falcatus, Heterophyopsis continua, Acanthotrema felis, Centrocestus armatus, Procerovum varium, Cryptocotyle concava, and Stictodora lari, were recovered. More than 5 species of echinostomes, i.e., Echinostoma hortense, Echinochasmus japonicus, Echinochasmus sp., Echinoparyphium sp., and unidentified larval echinostomes, were collected. Plagiorchis spp. were detected in cats from areas of Seomjin-gang and Yeongsangang. From the above results, it has been confirmed that stray cats in 5 major riverside areas of Korea are highly infected with various species of ZITs.
Animals ; Cat Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Cats ; Female ; Male ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Trematoda/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Trematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Zoonoses/epidemiology/*parasitology

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with a broad range of intermediate hosts. Chickens as important food-producing animals can also serve as intermediate hosts. To date, experimental studies on the pathogenicity of T. gondii in broiler chickens were rarely reported. The objective of the present study was to compare the pathogenicity of 5 different T. gondii strains (RH, CN, JS, CAT2, and CAT3) from various host species origin in 10-day-old chickens. Each group of chickens was infected intraperitoneally with 5 x 10(8), 1 x 10(8), 1 x 10(7), and 1 x 10(6) tachyzoites of the 5 strains, respectively. The negative control group was mockly inoculated with PBS alone. After infection, clinical symptoms and rectal temperatures of all the chickens were checked daily. Dead chickens during acute phage of the infection were checked for T. gondii tachyzoites by microscope, while living cases were checked for T. gondii infection at day 53 post-inoculation (PI) by PCR method. Histopathological sections were used to observe the pathological changes in the dead chickens and the living animals at day 53 PI. No significant differences were found in survival periods, histopathological findings, and clinical symptoms among the chickens infected with the RH, CN, CAT2, and CAT3 strains. Histopathological findings and clinical symptoms of the JS (chicken origin) group were similar to the others. However, average survival times of infected chickens of the JS group inoculated with 5 x 10(8) and 1 x 10(8) tachyzoites were 30.0 and 188.4 hr, respectively, significantly shorter than those of the other 4 mammalian isolates. Chickens exposed to 10(8) of T. gondii tachyzoites and higher showed acute signs of toxoplasmosis, and the lesions were relatively more severe than those exposed to lower doses. The results indicated that the pathogenicity of JS strain was comparatively stronger to the chicken, and the pathogenicity was dose-dependent.
Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan/blood ; Cat Diseases/parasitology ; Cats ; Chickens ; Poultry Diseases/blood/mortality/*parasitology/pathology ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/parasitology ; Toxoplasma/genetics/growth & development/*pathogenicity/physiology ; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/blood/mortality/*parasitology/pathology ; Virulence